Combined wheel scraper and brace for wheelbarrows



Nov. s; 1927. 1,648,374

L. W. WALKER COMBINED WHEEL SCRAPER AND BRACE FOR WHBELBARROWS Filed Nov. 9, 1923 I we,

I l1 II' .4 I 6 1.3 d

'42 5 o a In Il Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

UNIT so STATES LITTLETON w. WALKER, or ARLINGTON vinsrnie.

COMBINED WHEEL sonaran AND nAon FOR wnnnrnannowsf Application filed November 9, 1923! Serial No. 673,695.

This invention is an improvementinwheel scrapers for wheel barrows, and hasfor its principal object the provision of a wheel scraper which, though set out of contact with the wheel, will, upon the accumulation of material on the wheel, automatically remove the accumulation clear to the periphery of the wheel, and again return to its set position. i

This I accomplish by fabricating the scraper of a resilient material, and positioning the blade of the scraper at such an an gle to the wheel, and at such distance therefrom, that ordinarily, when the wheel is clear, it may turn out of engagement with the scraper, but upon an accumulation form'- ing, such accumulation will engage with the blade as the wheel rotates, and if adhering tightly to the wheehwill bend the bladeover until it engages with the wheel, whereupon the continued rotation of the latter will cause the accumulation to be peeled or scraped off against the rear face of the blade. As soonas the accumulation is removed, the blade will spring back to its set position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel scraper that will also act as an efficient brace for the structure of the barrow- This is effected by increasing the width of the blade toward the reargunt-il it approximates the'width of the side rails of the barrow at the line of attachment. and bendingv over the rear part of the blade'to lie against the under sides of the rails. The bent over portion is punched to receive the bolts which secure the forward ends of the barrow legs to the rails. In this manner the bent over portion forms an adequate brace for the barrow, as well as an anchorage for the blade, and by increasing the width of the blade toward the rear, and bending it with respect to the brace portion, the strength and resiliency of the blade is materially increased.

With these and other objects in viewwhich will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 represents a side elevational view of a Wheel barrow, with the invention in place thereon.

Figure 2 represents a bottom plan view thereof, and

F gure 3 represents-a view in perspective of the scraper and brace removed. Referring more particularly to the drawmgs, the wheel barrow is of the usualconstruction, and includes the side bars 5 terminati'ng at their rear ends in the handles 6,

and upon which the body 7 is supported. The wheel 8 is mounted inthe usual manner. The supporting legs 9 are secured at their forward ends to the side bars by the useof bolts 10 asusual. I I

The combined blade 11 and brace 12 are formed integrally'from a piece of resilient metal of suitable gauge. The blade is bent with respect to the brace portion atsuch an angle that when the brace is in place across the side bars as shown, the blade will extend forwardly and downwardly toward the rear face of the wheel at an angle of approximately 45. The forward narrower edge 13 of the blade does not normally bearagainst the wheel, but spaced slightly therefrom, say an eighth of an inch, so that when the wheel is clear of accumulation, it may turn freely out of engagement with the blade.

Upon the formation of an accumulation upon the periphery of the wheel, such .accuniulation will, as the wheel revolves during the use of the barrow, in coming up around the rear periphery of the path of the wheel, engage against the blade 11., If the accumulation is-soft, or does not adhere strongly to the wheel, the blade will bend only slightly toward the wheel, and the accumulation will be scraped off almost to the periphery of the wheel. It will be removed to such an extent as not to afford any appreciable retardation to the movement of the wheel. If, however, the accumulation is hard, or of a stiff nature, or adheres closely to the wheel, it will, upon engaging with the lower edge of the blade 11, bend such blade in toward the periphery of the wheel, thereby bringing a wedging action into play, such that will cause the accumulation 'to be scraped off against the rear face of theblade.

The pressure of the accumulation against ceiving the bolts 10, are so spaced. as to allow the device to be attached to wheel barrows now in use, such attachment being ef-.

fected by removing the nuts from the bolts 10, withdrawing these bolts, springing down the forward ends of the supporting legs 9, and placing the brace in position on the bolts. The forward ends of the supporting legs may then be again placed upon the will, of (30111113, be understood that the distance between the bolt openings in the brace may be varied, according to the distance apart of the bolts on the'wheel barrows to -which the device is to be applied.

I have found in actual use that a scraper and brace constructed according to my invention, not only eifectively increasesv the stiffness and strength of the barrow structure, but operates admirably for the removal of the accumulations, in the manner above set forth. Where barrows are used in cement working, or on roads where tar, sand and gravel are used, and in other work of a similar nature, .the problem of keeping the wheels clean is a serious one, so much so, that many contractors and gang foremen, at the end of the days work, leave behind a man whose duty it is to clean the wheels of the wheel barrows by hand, so that upon the resumption of activities the next day, the wheel barrows may be used without the annoyance caused by lumps of accumulation on the peripheries of the wheels. I have found in actual use that the scraper will at all times keep the wheel clear, so that the use of my invention will do away with the requirement of manual labor for cleaning the wheels. It will also do away with the practice now existing in many gangs, of hammering and banging the peripheries of the wheel with shovels andflhammersand spades, in order to clear them of accumulations. Obviously, such rough treatment is injurious not only to the wheel barrows, but to the other implements as well.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding, and no undue limitations should be deduced therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible, in view of the prior art. I

I claim zi 1. The combination with a wheel barrow, of a brace rigidly connected to the side rails and extending transversely of the barrow, a resilient blade formed integrally with the brace and extending downwardly and for-' wardly toward the wheel of the wheel barrow and terminating in spaced relation to said wheel, and adapted when engaged by an accumulation on the wheel to have its free end moved under tension toward the wheel and when the accumulation is removed to spring back automatically to normal position, the blade being tapered toward its forward end.

2. A wheel scraper including a brace por tion having an integral flange along one side for rigidifying it, and an integral resilient blade portion along the otherside bent at an angle to the brace portion, the brace portion of such wheel scraper being adapted to be connected to the side rails of a wheel barrow, and the resilient blade portion be ing adapted to extend forwardly and downvardly toward the wheel of the barrow and terminate in spaced relation to such wheel and adapted when engaged by an accumulation on the wheel to have its free'end moved under tension toward the wheel and when the accumulation is removed to spring back automatically to normal position.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaffix my signature. i r V LITTLETON l/V. WALKER. 

